Hoisting and transporting device



Jan. 7, 193i M. J. FITZGERALD, JR

HOISTING AND TRANSPORTING DEVICE Filecl'Deq. 28. 2 Sheets-Sheet l QQ m z I MQ avw mt oz ww- Jan. 7, 1930. M. J. FlTZGERALD, JR

HOISTING AND TKANSEORTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheei- 2 Filed- Dec 28. 1927 Patented Jan. v 7, 1930 4 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE HOISTING AND TRANSPORTING DEVICE Application filed December as, 1927. Serial No. 243,066.

This invention relates generally to hoistmg and transporting devices and more particularly to devices of a nature such as are used for hoisting and transporting bulk freight, brick, cement etc. I am aware that various industrialtrucks have been especially designed adapted to pick upa load under favorable conditions but these are of limited ability because only constructed for a special purpose, such as picking up rolls of paper or foundry pots etc., whereas the demand is for a hoisting and transporting deyice for general use and capable of hoistng a load from the floor or other supportmg surface or dropping a load on to the floor or other supporting surface.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a device that can readily hoist and transport objects of great bulk and weight. I

Another object is the provision of means in such a device that automatically positions said device in proper relation to the object to be hoisted.

A further object is the provision of means for balancing said device with its load.

A still further object is the provision of means for facilitatin the movement of such a device when on a platform, etc.

39 The foregoing and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the description to follow taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a proved device. Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pallet designed for use with my improved device.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the pallet shown-in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side view of a modified form of my improved device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the 'device illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a frame 10 including a lower cross beam 10,

.upright'beams 12, upper cross beam 14 and transversely and angularly disposed beams if 15 and 17 respectivel The lower cross beam 10' is shown as, ormed of channeled iron but which may be made of any other perspective view of my imgroves.

suitable material suflicienty stout to stand the strain. Rigidly secured to said cross beam 10 by means of angle' plates 11 are a plurality of upright beams 12, and rigidly secured to the tops of said uprights 12 by means of angle plates 13 is an upper crossbeam 14. Extending between the outer ends of said cross beams 10 and 14 on either side of the frame ,is a brace beam 15. Rigidly secured to the cross beam 10 and'extending transversely and at right angles thereto-are a plurality of transverse beams 16, said beams 16 forming lifting fingers ora supporting platform, said beams being beveled at their outer ends to facilitate their insertion under a platform or object to be lifted.

Fixed to the cross beam 14 and angularly disposed with relation thereto are beams 17, the said beams converging to a point as indicated at 18 and being joined at said point by platesr Brace beams 19 extending between said beams 17 and the cross beam 14 hold the beams 17 rigid and reinforce the same. These beams 17 it will be noted extend to a'point midway the length of the transverse beams 16. Secured to the plates 18 is an eyelet 20 and mounted on the upper cross beam 14 at a point directly opposite the eyelet 20 is a perforated lug 21. Another eyelet 22 is fastened to the upper surface i of the lower cross beam 10 in alignment with the lug 21 and eyelet 20.

Mounted on the lower cross beam 10 by means of brackets 23 are rollers 24, said rollers extending an appreciable distance beea low the lower surface of the beam 10 to facilitate the movement of the frame along the floor of a platform or other supporting surface. It will be understood that instead of mounting the rollers 25 on brackets; the cross en Y beam 10 might be solid and its lower surface grooved and the rollers mounted within said In Figure 2 I have illustrated a particular type of pallet to be used with the fore going device. This pallet may be of any de:

- sired size but the size I prefer is one 5 x 6' suitable to be loaded on to a standard sized automobile truck. The pallet conslsts of transverse joists or timbers 25 preferably 106 construction permits the pallet to be readily 2 x 6" and timbers 26 preferably 4 x 6" interposed therebetween. These timbers support a floor 27 upon which may be loaded brick, cement or any kind of freight. Fixed tothe lower ends of the timbers 25 and 26-are a plurality of spaced slats or boards 28 which iupported on any kind of a supporting surace.

The means for hoisting and transporting the device shown. in Figure 1 comprises a boom or other suitable device for lifting (not shown) from which depends a cable 29 carrying a book 30 at its end. Suspended from the hook 30 is a chain 31 provided with a loop 32 whichis adapted to securely engage the eyelet 20. Owing to the great bulk of the weight of the frame being disposed to the left of the pivot point indicated at 18, the frame when suspended from the cable 29 is normally in a state of unstable equilibrium; that is to say, the upper part thereof is tilted downwardly and the transverse beams 16 tilted upwardly. In order to restore the balance of the frame so that its supporting beams 16 are horizontal, I provide a second cable 33, one end of which is attached to the upper end of the chain 31 and the other free end of which passes through the perforated lug 21 downwardly over the rear of the frame and is removably attached by means of a hook 34 to a loop 35 secured to the eyelet 22. When this cable 33 is thus secured to the loop 35 the lower cross beam 10 is pulled upwardly disposing the beams 16 in a horizontal position'for supporting a load. When it is desired to tilt the beams-16 downwardly at an angle to the horizontal for the purpose of more readily getting the-beams 16 under an object to be hoisted or for the purpose of facilitating the unloading of a load, the cable may be hooked to the eyelet 22 direct thus tilting the rear portion of the frame upwardly and the fore part thereof downwardly as will be apparent. It will be understood that the loop 35 may be longer or shorter as desired.

In using the improved device with a pallet 27 as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the freight is first loaded onto the pallet, the frame is' then swung to a position adjacent the loaded pallet, its fingers or beams 16 first being brought to a horizontal position by means of I the cable 33 and in alignment with the grooves inthe pallet between the joists 25 and 26.

The beams 16 are then pushed into said.

grooves mder the floor 27 and the pallet with its load 1S then ready to be hoisted and transported as will be understood.

In Figure 4, I haveillustrated a modified orm of my improved device. This modified fqmncomprises a crpssbeam 36 formed of channel iron or other suitable material. Ex-

tending upwardly from the center of said cross beam'36 and secured thereto by rivets.

is an upright beam 37. Riveted to said cross beam 36 by means of angle plates 38 and extending at right angles to the upri ht 37 are a plurality of horlzontal beams or ngers posed at right angle to said earn 41 is a cross beam 43 of the same length as the cross beam 36. A plurality of eyelets 44 is carried in spaced relationship on the lower surface of said beam 43 for a purpose which will be presently described. The beam 41 is reinforced at its midsection by means of a plate 45 riveted to either side thereof and secured to said plates 45 at the center of said beam 41 is an eyelet 46. By reason of this construction the frame is in proper balance and when suspended with its load by-means of a chain 47 depending from a boom (not shown) the center of gravity is through the point where the eyelet 46 is located. When using this modified form of the invention' with a pallet such as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the beams 39 are pushed through the grooves between the joints 26 and 26 so that the ends of said beams 39 extend an appreciable distance beyond the end of the I pallet. For the purpose of retaining the load in proper position and to prevent it from falling off the pallet I mount a cable 48 on the extended end of each of said beams 39, the free end of which cable 48 is adapted to be removably attached to the eyelet 44 directly opposite by means of a hook 49.

It will be understood that theforms of the invention illustrated and described might be used for hoisting and transporting objects that are not loaded on a pallet. It is also to be understood that while the forms aforesaid are admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is not intended to confine the invention to the several forms of embodiment herein illustrated and described as it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms, all coming within the splrlt of the invention and the scope of the claims which follow and I desire to be limited only by the appended claims and the state of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a frame including a lower cross beam, an upper cross beam, a plurality of beams extending between said cross beams, a plurality of beams secured to said upper cross and angularlydis osed with relation thereto, and a plurality o beams secured to said lower cross beam and extending at an angle thereto, said latter beams forming a load supporting platform, and rollers carried by saidlow- 1 l er cross beam, said rollers extendmgan ape.

preciable distance below the under surface of said cross beam for engaging the frame supporting surface.

2. A device of the class described, in comhination with hoisting mechanism, a cable depending from said holstmg mechanism, a

frame adapted to be suspended from said cable, said frame includinga lower cross beam, an upper cross beam, upright beams extending between said cross beams, horizontally disposed beams. secured to said lower cross beam and forming a supporting platform for loads, horizontally disposed beams secured to said upper cross beam, said latter horizontal-beams converging to a point at their outer ends, said latter horizontal beams extendin midway the length of said first mentione horizontally disposed beams, said converging point aforesaid forming the suspension point,

said frame-normally suspended in unbalanced position and means earned by said frame for shifting said suspension point to balance said frame and supporting load. I

3. A device of the class described, in combination with hoisting mechanism, a cable depending from said hoisting mechanism, a frame adapted to be suspended from said cable, said frame including lower and upper cross beams, uprights extending between said cross beams, horizontally disposed beams secured to said lower beam and forming a load supporting platform, horizontally disposed beams secured to said up er cross beam and converging to a point mi way the length of said first mentioned horizontally disposed beams, said converging point forming the V beam members bein so disposed relative to y suspension point, said frame normally suspended in unbalanced position, an eyelet mounted on said lower cross beam, a second cable attached to said first mentioned cable and'adapted to engage said eyelet for shifting said suspension point and a loop member carried by said eyelet, said second mentioned cable adapted to engage said loop member to further shift the point of sus nsion.

4. A device of the class descri d in combination with hoisting mechanism, a frame adapted to be sus nded from said hoisting mechanism, said rame consisting of u per and lower horizontal beam members an upright beam members, the upper horizontal said lower horizont beam members and said upright beams that said frame is normally suspended in unbalanced position and means for balancing said frame.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto-afiix my" signature.

mumcn J. FITZGERALD, J2. 

